Roger T. Kugler, DMA

Director of Music Programs
Associate Professor of Music

Dr. Roger Kugler, conductor of the University Band and Athletic Bands, also serves as the director of music programs at Ottawa University. He has over 35 years experience as a successful high school and college band director. Roger has served as the Dean of the School of Music at Middle Tennessee State University and Vice President and Academic Dean at Central Methodist University before returning to Lawrence, Kansas to be with his family of five children and nine grandchildren. Kugler holds degrees from Wichita State University (BME and MM) and the University of Oregon (DMA). As an active member of the Kansas Music Educators Association and Kansas Bandmasters Association (past president), and with eight years of experience as a judge for Drum Corps Midwest and Drum Corps International, he is an active band clinician and adjudicator throughout the country.

Kugler has recently released Major Scales and Arpeggios, Wingert-Jones Publications (distributed by JW Pepper), the first release in a series of publications to help improve specific areas of band performance. All 12 major scales are presented in a clear, easy-to-read format. Adaptable for any rehearsal situation, the scales can be practiced individually or in sequence with full ensemble, sections, or individually. Percussion parts include melodic percussion, basic as well as rudimental snare drum parts, and additional auxiliary parts, adaptable to the instruments available. The percussion section can be rehearsed as a section or with the full band. Valuable in a multitude of uses, the scales can be rehearsed daily as a warm-up exercise, used individually to reinforce performance keys, or as audition/grading material.

As a professional trumpeter, Kugler has performed with the Wichita Symphony, Portland and Eugene Symphonies (Oregon), and has toured with the Temptations and Wayne Newton. He also frequently serves as a consultant to college and public school music programs throughout the country.